We all enter parenting with fear and trepidation. During the early years, we follow our little ones around with pride and protection. Fearful of missing a photo opportunity, we barely remove our attention as they smile, crawl or walk for the first time.

By the time the teenage years arrive, we’re tired! We’ve invested so much time and energy. They have learned so much. They are capable of so many things. And they look like young adults. We mourn the loss of childhood and feel our opportunities for maximum parenting impact are over, right?Read More

Communication sets the tone of a relationship. Spouses, friends, acquaintances, bosses, colleagues, parents, children… all our relationships are built on communication. When we increase and improve our communication with our teenagers, we win on many different levels. We learn more about the thought process of our children, our relationship gets better, and we have much more opportunity to guide and inspire them!

Look through some of the following ideas, and pick one or two that you can work on today!Read More

As parents, we are busy. Our day to day schedules and routines make it difficult to think about making a whole lot of changes, especially if it’s adding more to our plate. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start or what to change, take a deep breath and begin with one thing that is in your control—your perspective.Read More

There is no perfect plan for transforming a teenager into a respectful and honourable adult. Parenting is hard work. In the early years, it’s hands on and more physically interactive. As the transition into and through the teen years develop, parenting becomes more mentally challenging as we try to maintain a meaningful connection with a child who is changing (see “What Happened to my Kid?” for more on these changes) and testing everything we say and do.

This list is not intended to make parenting easy. Some of the ideas are intended to help you think from a different perspective which can make a positive difference in your experience and family relationships. Others are more practical, hands on. Try one or two ideas for a while, and add more as you integrate them into the daily lives and routines of your family.Read More

This is a questions that we, as parents, often ask ourselves as our children move from childhood into the tween/teen years. “He used to talk to me all the time! He was happy, enthusiastic and respectful. Now he comes home, goes to his room, turns on loud music, stares at the computer screen, and barely says a word! What happened to my kid?Read More